The year 2023 has been grappled with highs and lows. We look at some of the events that made waves:
January
Maria Johannes (39) was arrested for allegedly physically abusing a 12-year-old child in her care. She appeared in Katutura Magistrate’s Court on charges of assault and malicious damage to property. Johannes was arrested following a video that went viral on social media, showing a 12-year-old victim with fresh wounds that portrayed physical evidence of abuse and neglect.
Gustav Willem (88) made his first appearance in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl which led to her death. He has been charged with a count of murder and rape.
February
Eino Ndeulyetele (39) made his first court appearance in the Eenhana Magistrate’s Court for allegedly killing his mother before he burned her body, assaulting his niece, and setting their home on fire at their homestead in Elombe village in the Ohangwena region.
March
A 51-year-old man appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court for abusing and chaining his 15-year-old daughter.
National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia board chairperson Jennifer Comalie was arrested for drug possession after the police allegedly received a tip-off from an anonymous member of the public.
The case was eventually withdrawn.
The arrest came at the height of controversies between Comalie and Namcor’s suspended managing director Immanuel Mulunga over an ongoing investigation into Mulunga’s alleged involvement in the payment of over N$100 million for two Angolan oil blocks, without the board’s blessing.
May
The Supreme Court in a landmark ruling ordered the government through the home affairs ministry to recognise same-sex marriages concluded outside Namibia.
The Windhoek High Court exonerated Azaan Madisia (30) and her brother Steven Mulundu (25) on charges of murder and robbery in relation to the death of Shannon Wasserfall.
June
The Windhoek High Court sentenced Azaan Madisia to an effective jail term of six years on a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice, and two counts of insurance fraud.
Her brother and co-accused, Steven Mulundu, was sentenced to an effective prison term of four years on a count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
October
A syndicate of Namibians and Chinese nationals accused of defrauding Americans and Europeans was arrested in Windhoek. The 14 accused face 98 counts of trafficking in persons, 98 charges of using the services of victims of trafficking, and a count of fraud.
November
For the first time in Namibia, an all-female Supreme Court bench presided over an appeal matter. They are Lady Justice Rita Makarau, Hannelie Prinsloo, and Esi Schimming-Chase.
December
Thomas Menas Ifenya (31) was sentenced to two life terms and 25 years imprisonment by the Oshakati High Court. Ifenya killed two boys and seriously injured his grandmother on 15 February 2019 at Okafitu Kakatanyange village in Outapi constituency of the Omusati region.
The Judiciary conducted its first public interviews to select a High Court judge. The decision came at a time when the public demanded transparency and questioned the process through which legal heads are appointed to the bench.